Metallic fencepost



H.BABC0CK. METALL IC FENCEPOST. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 30.1916.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD BABCOCK,

OF STANFORD, MONTANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FIFTH TO GEORGE HONETCI-ILAGER, OF STANFORD, MONTANA.

METALLIC FENCEPOST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 3, 1920.

Application filed December 30, 1916. Serial No. 139,751.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD BABCOCK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stanford, in the county of Fergus and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metallic Fenceposts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. v

' This invention relates to new and useful improvements in metallic fence posts and the principal object of the invention is to provide a fence post for supporting the ordinary fence wires in spaced parallel relation and which is so constructed as to prevent the wire from sagging.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for firmly anchoring the post in the ground to prevent the same from becoming loosened and to provide a means for holdlng the post in a rigid and vertical position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of head for the lower end of the post which may be readily driven into the earth.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a suitable anchoring means which is adapted to be clamped about the post in order to prevent the same from being withdrawn from the ground.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel form of brace for holding the corner posts against accidental movement.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in'the novel combination and arrangement of parts which will be fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a view showing the corner posts in elevation with portions of the sockets in section to more clearly illustrate the details of construction.

Fig; 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view through one of the posts showing the wire holding clamp.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing the same on an enlarged scale, and

Fig. 4 is a view of the ordinary fence post showing the anchor plates embedded in the the main body of the fence post comprising an ordinary pipe having its lower end provided with threads 2 which are adapted to be threadedinto a socket 3 which is riveted or otherwise secured within a collar 4 formed on the upper side of the anchor frame designated generally by the numeral 5. This anchor frame 5 comprises the lower pointed portion or guide 6 which consists of a pair 'of converging bars, the divergent ends of which are formed integrally with parallel side bars 7 the upper ends of which are connected by a cross bar 8 having the collar 4 formed centrally thereof.

The post body is provided at spaced intervals with a plurality of openings 9, which openings 9 extend entirely through the post and are adapted to receive the long arms 10 of a U-shaped clamp bolt designated generally by the numeral 11, the short arm of which extends into a bore 12 formed in the post adjacent each of the bores 9. The short arm of the U-shaped bolt 11 extends into the opening 12 and it will thus be seen that a complete loop is formed through which the fence wire passes. The bolt is clamped in place by means of a suitable nut 13 which is threaded on the long arm and engages the side of the post opposite that on which the wire bears. p

The anchor plate for the device is best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4: and comprises a pair of plate sections 14 havingformed at their adjacent edges suitable flanges 15 and these edges are formed centrally with recesses and the flanges are curved to conform to the shape of the recesses and provided with apertures 16 for the reception of the bolt 17 which passes through suitable apertures 18 formed in the post and through the apertures 16 and the flanges so as to securely hold the anchor plate 14 in place. As illustrated in Fig. 4 when the ordinary fence is put up, the anchor plates are embedded beneath the surface of the ground but whenthe post is used at a corner as shown in Fig. 1, the plates rest on the surface of the ground and the upper ends of the curved portions of the flanges 15 form abutments against which the brace connections engage.

The brace comprises a diagonal bar 19 which is connected at its upper end to a socket 20 formed on a sleeve 21 which is secured to one of the fence posts, while the lower end of the bar 19 is threaded into a socket 22 formed on a sleeve 23 which is located near the lower end of the cooperating post and is arranged so that its lower end engages the upper edge of the collar of the anchor plate. Secured centrally of the bar 19 is a suitable sleeve 24: formed with a socket 25 into which the upper end of a diagonal brace rod 26 is connected, the lower end of which is connected into a socket 27 formed on the sleeve 28 which engages the anchor plate-of the post on which the sleeve 21 is located. In this way it will be seen that a rigid bracing structure is provided which will prevent the post carrying the sleeves 21 and 28 from coming out of proper position at any time and which is. so arranged as to thoroughly brace the whole.

lVhile in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that such changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts as will fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is A fence post of the character described comprising a base portion consisting of a strap bent to form a substantially V-shaped open frame, the upper terminals of the arms of the frame being bent inwardly toward each other, upwardly extending spaced feet formed on the terminals of the bent portions, a collar carried by the feet, a socket supported in the collar, a post inserted into the socket, and a two-part anchoring plate dotachably secured to the post adjacent'and in spaced relation to the base portion, as'a'nd for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HOWARD BABOOGK.

Vitnesses N. B. MATTHEWS, Gno. HoNnrsoHLAeER. 

